October 16, 2026 – November 18, 2026

A public-art light festival along Danghyeoncheon, an ordinary neighbourhood stream in Nowon, northeast Seoul. From 16 October the Nowon Cultural Foundation lines the walkway with hanji paper lanterns, sculptures, media art and laser works, under the 2026 title "A New Moon". Sources disagree on the end date — Seoul's festival portal lists 18 November, 2026 press coverage says three weeks from the opening. Hours and admission for 2026 were not published yet. Sanggye Station (Line 4) or Junggye Station (Line 7). A Seoul autumn festival that locals walk through on the way home.

A stream that turns into a light gallery

Danghyeoncheon is an ordinary neighbourhood stream in Nowon, in Seoul’s far northeast — the kind of walkway local people use to get home. For a few weeks each autumn the Nowon Cultural Foundation fills it with light: hanji paper lanterns, sculptures, media art and laser works set along the water, so the walk you would take anyway becomes the exhibition.

The 2026 edition opens on 16 October under the title A New Moon. It is the kind of festival that does not appear on tourist itineraries, because it is built for the people who live on that stream.

Before you go — two things are not settled yet

Sources disagree on the closing date. Seoul’s official festival portal lists it through 18 November; the 2026 press coverage says it runs three weeks from the opening, which would end in early November. Check the festival site before making a late-season trip.

Opening hours and admission for 2026 had not been published when this page was written. In 2025 the route ran about 2km along the stream, from Sanggye Station to Junggye. Check moonlightwalk.kr for this year’s hours and route.

Getting there

Sanggye Station (Line 4) or Junggye Station (Line 7), then down to the stream. It is a long way out from the centre — treat it as an evening of its own, not something you fit around a day in Jongno.